Aimed at the value conscious consumer, these budget desktops will tackle your computing needs -- without breaking the bank

No place is too far to walk if you have enough time. That's an old Steven Wright joke you might keep in mind if you're shopping for a bargain PC. If you only want to pay $400 for a computer, you'll probably have to get used to waiting -- performance may be terrible. Other drawbacks may include substandard keyboards, graphics with no game, small hard drives, a paucity of ports, and a general lack of upgradeability. However, as you push past the $500 mark the limitations begin to disappear. The most promising bargains here, such as the Gateway SX2840-01 and the HP Compaq 6005, combine strong performance and a good mix of features.